So you’ve finally decided to dive deep into this natural hair journey. Or maybe you’ve been here for some time and you are just down right tired. You look to ol’ reliable, protective styling. Every natural haired person knows the wonders that protective styling can bring. Most styles are low manipulation, your ends are tucked safe, and allows your hair to do what it’s meant to do.
Now we all love protective styles and we all know that they are beneficial, but we all have one thing in common. The dreadful thought of having to sit down and etch out an entire day or weekend, in some cases, to sit down and do your hair. We all know that when it comes to a protective style, you have to prepare your hair to stay put for some time. It needs hydration, it needs detangling and it definitely needs to be clean.
With the world of natural hair blooming, protective styling is becoming the norm. That means in our work life, personal life, in the media and it’s about time! So now we need to protect our hair, but quickly. Now that we have become unapologetically natural, we have to find ways to protect crowns while still living out our hectic, everyday lives. Here are a few of our favorite protective styles that you can complete in a timely manner. Don’t worry, they're beginner friendly!
First Things First
It would be irresponsible of us to not mention the number one important part of installing a protective style, your hair washing regimen! The goal of a protective style is to leave your hair alone so your hair can strengthen and grow at the same time. It would be counterproductive to apply a long lasting style to dirty hair. If your scalp is not cleansed, it will become irritated, which will clog your hair follicles. When your hair follicles are clogged, your hair does not grow and already existing hair will become brittle and dry due to lack of nourishment from the root. This cycle is not one you want to repeat, so in short, WASH YOUR HAIR BEFORE INSTALLING A PROTECTIVE STYLE! NaturAll offers two amazing bundles that include products you will need to install any protective style from start to finish. Both our AvoKiwi Protective Styling 6-Step Recipe and our AvoKiwi Wash and Go 6-Step Recipe are full regimens that really allow you to become creative with your styling. As we discuss each style, I’ll let you know which bundle would work best and for what type of hair as well.
Ol’ Reliable- Jumbo Box Braids (Rubber Band Method)
Box braids. We all love ‘em. They are versatile, they are durable and for the most part, the easiest style to maintain. Now, many people may steer away from doing box braids on their own. Even though braiding is a known skill in our community, some of us were not blessed with such a talent (it’s ok, we’re here for you all too). This method is fool-proof and it can be done in just about an hour or two. The smaller the braid, the longer it takes.
I know what you’re thinking. How in the world are box braids an easy protective style? Well, in the past few years, we have been blessed with the discovery of the rubberband method. The rubberband method of box braiding takes out the frustrating part of connecting your braiding hair to your head. Many naturals don’t install their own box braids for this very reason. Don’t worry, this can be done in an easy way. For this style, we highly recommend using our AvoKiwi Protective Styling 6-Step Recipe. This bundle includes the following steps:
Step 1: Hydrating Shampoo
Step 2: Hydrating Conditioner
Step 3: Hydrating Ice Cream Treatment Deep Conditioner
Step 4: Hydrating Moisturizer
Step 5: Hydrating Twisting Paste
Step 6: Hydrating AvoKiwi Oil Blend.
You can start this method of box braiding pretty similarly to the original method. Working with clean, damp and detangled hair (steps #1-3), section hair into 4 quadrants. On one section at a time, apply the Hydrating Moisturizer (step #4). Be sure when you apply the moisturizer, you are applying only as needed! Now this will depend on the individual person’s hair length and density but for estimated purposes, a nickel sized amount for someone with shoulder length hair should be enough for each section. Continue detangling until all of the product is evenly distributed. Repeat with each section.
Allow your hair to dry about 90% through and begin parting each section into the desired size. You can do triangle parts or straight boxes. That’s the diversity I was talking about!
As you create each individual part, this is where you will begin attaching the rubber bands. During this part comes step #5. Smooth a small amount of our Hydrating Twisting Paste on the roots of the part you are holding. After applying the twisting paste, tie your rubberband around the part. Do not tie the rubber band too tight! You should not feel uncomfortable and you should be able to move the base of the section freely. Two-strand twist the section all the way down, applying twisting paste as needed. This will now act as the third strand needed for your braid. Take your braiding hair, divided in two pieces. Wrap around the base and begin braiding. When there is about an inch left of your natural hair, tuck into braiding hair and create a new strand out of the tucked piece. Repeat until your entire head is complete. Step #6, the very last step, is to apply our Hydrating AvoKiwi Oil Blend to your scalp and roots. This will seal in all moisture and keep your scalp from flaking.
Two Strand Twists and Twist Outs
Another super easy protective style is a twisted do! The best part about twists or twist outs is you don’t have to install a million small twists to achieve peak definition! You can reduce the number of twits and still hold defined curls! You can even do two or three flat twists and that can be a style on its own! This style could use both of the bundles we’ve mentioned.
However, for a style like twists, we want lots of definition but we also want some movement. There is nothing worse than having a bomb style that is stiffer than a pot of grits left on the counter. So for this style, I would recommend using our AvoKiwi Wash and Go 6-Step Recipe. This regimen is very similar to the one mentioned before but two of the ingredients have been swapped. It includes our Hydrating Curl Custard which provides a medium hold for a bouncier look. This bundle includes the following steps:
Step 1: Hydrating Shampoo
Step 2: Hydrating Conditioner
Step 3: Hydrating Ice Cream Treatment Deep Conditioner
Step 4: Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Step 5: Hydrating Curl Custard
Step 6: Hydrating AvoKiwi Oil Blend.
Watch this twistout tutorial to see how we apply each product and when!
Product Hack: Our Hydrating Curl Custard can be substituted for the Hydrating Twisting Paste used in this video! The best way to use our Hydrating Curl Custard to achieve the best results is to apply to wet or damp hair. NEVER DRY. Along with applying to wet or dry hair, you want to pair the custard with a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer. This will help prime the hair for the slight caste that a custard or gel could form around the hair shaft. Always allow a twist out to dry BEFORE taking it down. When you do take it down, be sure to use an oil to better ensure no flaking occurs.
Bun It
The absolute quickest and in our opinion, the good old slicked up bun. A bun is the EASIEST way to tuck all of your hair away. Your ends are protected, which should be your number one goal. This style is low manipulation. It can be worn in a formal setting, during a relaxed meal and is seen as a professional look. While it is always easy to throw your hair up, you still have to be mindful. While it is low manipulation, it can create unnecessary tension on the edges, crown and nape of the hair. Our AvoKiwi Protective Styling 6-Step Recipe is the best option for this style. Check out this simple low bun tutorial!
Pro Tips: Preparation is key! Before you do any updo, you want to make sure your hair is thoroughly detangled. While you have already detangled during your wash day regimen, when you are ready to complete your ponytail, start from the ends and slowly brush upward. This will ensure that your hair is properly detangled while in the upwards position. When it comes to adding longevity to your bun, we recommend adding an extension. This will keep your hair out of the elements and can help retain more moisture. This will help you have an easier time when you have to take down the style.
The Take Down
You know the old saying, all great things must come to an end. This also applies to your protective style. The take down stage is just as crucial, maybe even more than the installation. When you take down a protective style, the main goal is to retain all the length you just put all this work in for! If you are taking a style like twists or flat twists, it is super important to use a lightweight oil when you do. This will prevent breakage and it will preserve the definition of your coils! This way you can get one or two more days of wear. You can wear this still in a pine able or shape it around your face and let it free!
Along with taking down a style, detangling is crucial during this process. Your hair will need a bit more TLC during the process because it has been resting for some time. This means it will be more prone to breakage if you move too quickly. You want to finger detangle first. Make sure your hands are either wet with water or you have a product or an oil with super slip. This will make sure your hair strands are gliding through your fingers so you are minimizing any tugging or pulling on the hair. This will prevent any extra damage to your already fragile strands. Then, once you can easily run your fingers through your hair, you want to use a wide tooth comb or our Detangling Brush to make sure your hair is free of any snags or dead ends. After detangling thoroughly, it’s time to wash your hair and do it all over again!
Even In a Rush, Take Your Time
So the whole point of you clicking on this blog was to find some quick easy protective styles for your everyday busy life. Along with finding easy ways to care for your hair, you’re looking for a convenient way to do so. We understand, but NaturAll does want to remind you to slow down and take your time. These styles don’t take too much time in general but you should take YOUR time during every step. Pay attention to your ends, treat your edges gently and take the time to make sure all of your products are used in harmony with each other. When great products team up with a careful regimen, your protective styles will last you longer and benefit you stronger!
Remember that consistency is the key to strong and healthy hair and is also the best way to see quick results. We recommend subscribing to any product you're interested in so you can receive them regularly without the hassle of remembering to make individual purchases. You can also receive free products, free shipping, 10% off single products, and 25% off bundles. If you're interested in subscribing or have any questions, reach out to our Customer Experience Team via email at hello@naturallclub.com or give us a call at +1 800-683-8576 during business hours M-F 10a-5pm.
